Capitals-Devils double dip could be feisty

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Wojtek Wolski and the Capitals are playing the Devils twice at home in three days.

Things can get a little chippy when NHL teams face each other two games in a row. So watch closely when the Capitals host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday. Because if there were any altercations on the ice during their meeting Thursday night, those almost certainly will carry over to the rematch.

Both games were scheduled at Verizon Center -- a quirk of the lockout-shortened NHL schedule. The Devils arrived in town Wednesday night and won't leave until after Saturday afternoon's game.

"Guys don't really forget," Washington forwardWojtek Wolskisaid. "I know guys that have kept grudges for a full year until you play a team the next time, and you still remember what happened. So this being two nights after, I'm sure that it's going to be highly competitive."

The Caps face a similar scenario on March 21 and 22 when they travel to Winnipeg to face the Jets on consecutive days. That route takes some players back to their American Hockey League days in Hershey, when seeing the same opponent was a fiscal help to minor league teams and not just a scheduling quirk.

Washington defensemanKarl Alznersaid he last played a team at the same site two games in a row Jan. 8 and 9, 2010, when Hershey traveled all the way to Manitoba for games on a Friday night and Saturday night in Winnipeg.

"I personally don't love it like that. I personally like to see different teams," Alzner said. "That's one thing that I didn't really like [in the AHL] was having to see [Wilkes-Barre/Scranton] it seemed like four or five times in two-and-a-half weeks. I like to have a bit of a change."